The Common Ills: Haider's failing? Who's signing the report card?

Friday, January 22, 2016

Haider's failing? Who's signing the report card?

Starting with the three Americans missing in Iraq, Mohammed Tawfeeq and Ralph Ellis (CNN) report that Khaled al-Obeidi, Iraq's Minister of Defense, has confirmed that the three were kidnapped.

Sunday, Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) broke the news that 3 Americans were missing in Iraq. Monday, CBS NEWS and AP reported, "A group of Americans who went missing over the weekend in Iraq were kidnapped from their interpreter's home in Baghdad, according to an Iraqi government intelligence official."

Susannah George (AP) reported Thursday morning that "two powerful Shiite militias are top suspects" in the kidnapping: Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Saraya al-Salam -- both linked to Iran.

Within hours, as noted in yesterday's snapshot, Haider al-Abadi found his voice.

The prime minister of Iraq had no public comment about the kidnapping on Sunday.

Or on Monday.

Not a word on Tuesday.

Cat still had his tongue on Wednesday.

But when Iran was suspected of being connected to the kidnappings, suddenly Haider was feeling chatty.

He rushed to insist that, first of all, no one even knows if the three were kidnapped.

Possible.

They could, after all, be on some streaming binge.

Iraq did just get Netflix.

Maybe the three are catching up on DAREDEVIL, JANUARY JONES and GRACE & FRANKIE?

Again, Haider had nothing to say until speculation began connecting Iran to the kidnapping.

It was an embarrassment for Iraq.

It was something of an international incident.

But he had not one word to offer.

Until his beloved was floated as being behind the kidnapping.

That's part of the bang up job Haider's doing as leader of Iraq.

So is this:

It's January and the rich country of Iraq has $2 billion left in its budget.

Haider doesn't appear to have ended corruption in Iraq, just accelerated it.

He's also not protected the Iraqi people.

Marwan Qassami ‏@QassamiMarwan 24 minutes ago

Graphic: US backed Shi'a militia in #Iraq decapitate and burn the body of a Sunni civilian:

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